National organization spotlights Burrell for career-readiness programming
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Burrell School District is a nationwide model for how educators can tailor their curriculum to get students ready for the real world.
The district recently was announced as a “Lighthouse” system for future-ready learners from the American Association of School Administrators.
Only six school districts nationwide got the recognition this fall.
Superintendent Shannon Wagner said she is proud of the accolade.
“We have teachers who have bought into what we’re doing, to really digging into how we can make school relevant to kids so that, when they are here, they feel it’s beneficial to them and they’re doing things useful to them,” she said.
That includes — and as noted by AASA in awarding Burrell the designation — the high school’s “learner profiles” for students; school-community engagement events; an aspiring educators program with the Northern Westmoreland Career & Technology Center; cross-curricular courses at the high school, such as Environmental Field Study and Investigative Sciences and Literature; a Senior Seminar course for students to explore possible career fields; and the PNC Partner Up program.
Wagner said it’s more important now than ever to prepare students for the changing world and make sure they have the skills necessary to succeed in whichever career they choose to pursue.
“From my point of view, it is because our world has changed so much,” she said. “The world is so different and the demands of what is necessary for kids to have when they walk across the stage to be college- and career-ready is more than what they were.”
The recognition also means that school districts nationwide wanting to improve their career-readiness programming can turn to Burrell administrators as an example.
Two other school districts in Western Pennsylvania earned recognition: Butler Area for community alignment and South Allegheny for future-ready learners.
“By highlighting and celebrating these districts’ stories, we’re helping to equip all school systems with the tools and inspiration they need to drive meaningful change and ensure every student has the opportunity to thrive,” said M. Ann Levett, assistant executive director for AASA.